Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church which even now is the kingdom of Christ. Otherwise there would be no remembrance of them at the altar of God in the communication of the Body of Christ.-- Saint Augustine of Hippo from “The City of God”

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Vatican
City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father today received in
audience Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation
for the Causes of Saints. During the audience he authorised the
promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes:

-
Venerable Servant of God Pio Alberto del Corona, Italian professed
priest of the Order of Preachers, bishop of San Miniato and founder
of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit (1837-1912);

-
Venerable Servant of God Marie-Elisabeth Turgeon, Canadian foundress
of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (1840-1881).

The
Pontiff also approved the votes of the Ordinary Session of the
Cardinal and Bishop Fathers in favour of the canonisation of Blessed
Joseph Vaz, Indian priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founder
of the Oratory of the Holy Cross of Miracles in Goa (1651-1711).

Finally,
the Holy Father decided that a Consistory will be convoked shortly
for the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz and Blessed Maria Cristina
of the Immaculate Conception, nee Adelaide Brando.

A
dispute between the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of
Peoria, Illinois, has blocked progress toward the beatification of
Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Bishop
Daniel Jenky of Peoria made a surprise announcement on September 3
that the Vatican has decided to suspend the cause for Archbishop
Sheen's beatification, which had been expected to take place next
year. The bishop said that he was making this announcement "with
immense sadness," after failing to reach an agreement with the
New York archdiocese about the transfer of Archbishop Sheen's
remains.

The
Peoria diocese, where the renowned preacher was raised and ordained
to the priesthood, had taken the lead in promoting the cause for his
beatification. In April, a Vatican-appointed panel approved the
validity of a miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen's intercession,
and Church officials predicted that the beatification ceremony would
take place in Peoria in 2015.

However,
Bishop Jenky revealed that the New York archdiocese has balked at a
request to transfer the late archbishop's remains to Peoria, for an
inspection and the preparation of first-class relics. Bishop Jenky
said that he had been "personally assured on several occasions"
that the New York archdiocese would cooperate in the transfer, but
New York officials later withdrew their support and Vatican officials
were unable to negotiate an agreement. Therefore, Bishop Jenky
reported, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints "decided
that the Sheen cause would not have to be relegated to the
Congregation's historic archive."